Rather than doing one big lengthy post of my favourite beauty product discoveries of the year, I’ve decided to do it in segments I’m thinking. Today I’m starting with the makeup products that I’ve discovered and fallen in love with over the last year. Hopefully this won’t be too atrociously long-winded…

L’Oreal Infallible Glow-Lock Illuminating Primer ($18.99 CDN):I’m kind of shocked that I found a primer I liked throughout the year, as I’m not usually impressed by them. It’s a water, silicone and plant oil based formula that leaves the skin moisturized and smoothed with a soft glow – but no actual shimmer particles – and allows for a more skin like foundation application on my drier skin. I find it to be less of a glowy primer and more of a great hydrating one that has a slight brightening effect.

Laneige Whitening BB Cushion ($43.70 CDN):This was easily my most reached for everyday base. It never clung to dry patches, looked like my actual skin but evened it out and brightened it to a significant degree, leaving a luminous skinlike finish. It has broad spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen with a PA+++ rating, containing zinc and titanium dioxide, along with the chemical active octinoxate. Despite having skin that typically gets irritated by chemical filters, I happily used this one. It offers buildable coverage too and actually lasted hours and hours on my skin. I also applaud the product for having actual skincare benefits. It contains a healthy dose of the superhero niacinamide, anti-inflammatory green tea and a stable form of vitamin c.

Dior Forever Skin Glow 24h Wear Radiant Perfection Skin Caring Foundation ($64-68 CDN):This foundation discovery almost makes me forgive Dior for discontinuing my longtime favourite Star foundation. I might say it actually improves on that formula. It has become my go-to foundation when I’m looking for more coverage and substance than the cushion provides. It’s a solid medium buildable coverage foundation that leaves a luminous finish and brightening, skin smoothing effect. It has a much improved shade range and lasts forever on my drier skin without highlighting texture and dryness.

L’Oreal Infallible Full Wear Concealer ($16.49 CDN): It’s rare that I find a concealer worth raving about, let alone one that I love enough to purchase in multiple colours for any sort of skintone variations; this one has made me do both. It’s super full coverage but doesn’t highlight dryness excessively when you thin it out to the degree I do, so I’m able to achieve coverage without much in terms of creasing. Also, it wears fantastically as an eyeshadow primer on my crease-prone lids. I love using it under my eyes to camouflage my dark circles and it also functions as a spot concealer. The shade range is ridiculously good as well and it comes with much more product than the typical concealer, making it economical.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter ($54 CDN): I honestly can’t tell you the last time that I found myself reaching for a highlighter that wasn’t this one, and it’s even made its way into my more minimal makeup routine. The oversize doe-foot applicator allows for effortless application and it leaves a gorgeous pale dewy sheen to the skin that doesn’t read makeup-y and doesn’t highlight texture. I also love that it’s alcohol free – especially because I apply it to a particularly sensitive area on my face – and features replenishing squalene.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Contour Duo in Fair/Medium ($85 CDN):You could say that 2019 was the year I tried out and fell in love with this hyped luxury line. The real reason I loved this product was the perfect neutral bronzer tone that the bronzer has. To be honest, the highlighter isn’t my favourite. This bronzer builds up nicely and with ease and has a nice neutral golden tone that helps to sculpt my moderately fair skin while still providing a sun kissed hue.

Anastasia Beverley Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette ($55 CDN): This crimson-leaning neutral palette was actually included in last year’s version of this post with the caveat that it was a last minute discovery. I’m happy to report that I still love wearing this mostly matte palette for natural to smokier looks. I really enjoy the combination of pale shimmery lid and highlight shades and rustier and pinky-red hues. I’m even willing to forgive the powderiness of the formula.

Anastasia Beverley Hills Carli Bybel Eyeshadow Palette ($60 CDN): The latter half of the year, I invested in and happily used this eyeshadow palette. Initially I was hesitant of investing in yet another influencer collaboration but I must admit that I like the selection of colours and textures featured in the palette. I really enjoy the pigmented and powdery formula, also. Rather than being comprised primarily of mattes, the palette is an even mixture of mattes and shimmers/metallics. The colour scheme is surprisingly versatile, with a nice selection of neutral shades with fun metallics and pops of colour thrown in, creating neutral looks, smoky looks of varying intensity and looks with a bit of colour. I do get the most use out of the warm neutrals, however.

Call me vain, but there’s something undeniably therapeutic from talking about the beauty products that I’ve been enjoying with friends, or writing about them online. Favourites posts and videos are some of my favourite content to read or watch and I kind of miss including them here. Let’s get started in remedying this:

L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara ($13.99 CDN): For the most part, I’m not a terminal makeup repurchaser. One of the exceptions is this mascara. It has a large but regularly shaped natural bristle brush and a dry (right from the get-go) formula that creates loads of volume and drama with little product. Unfortunately, this mascara can get clumpy and too dry rather quickly. On the positive side, this formula keeps me replacing my mascara tubes frequently. It’s the perfect formula that adds drama to my wimpy but long lashes that doesn’t smudge, flake, feel heavy on the eyes or require additional effort in removal.

Laneige Whitening BB Cushion ($47.80 CDN): There’s something about cushion style foundations that seem to leave my skin at its most radiant and natural-looking and this Korean offering provided on that front, whilst providing reliable broad-spectrum protection with a combination of mineral and synthetic actives and significant skincare benefits. The formula offers sheer to medium coverage but remains like a second skin and allows me to use enough product that I find I can rely on my makeup for my initial sunscreen application. Despite being sensitive to most chemical filters, I tolerate this octinoxate, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide combination well. I happily report that the formula is free of drying alcohols and offers a hefty dose of the pore normalizing and barrier repairing niacinamide and the antioxidant green tea. It’s the perfect sheerer base for the warmer weather in particular that I even find myself reaching for when I’m not grabbing other makeup.

Dior Forever Skin Glow 24H Wear Radiant Perfecting Skin-Caring Foundation ($64 CDN): I was also fortunate enough to discover a foundation formulation that I’ve been happily wearing every single day that I reach for a traditional foundation. I’m 99% sure that this is the reformulation slash replacement for Diorskin Star Foundation and I love it every bit as much. Yes it contains alcohol and fragrance – but at the very least it’s applied on top of your entire skin regimen – but it provides beautiful skin-like luminosity and medium-buildable coverage. I’m happy to say its a similar formula but slightly thinner in texture with more shade offerings.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter in O1 ($50 CDN): This liquid illuminator was one of those products I had heard loads about but wasn’t excited to invest in. I ended up being really impressed with this pale golden beige liquid as an everyday highlighter. The giant doe-foot applicator makes it super easy to apply in specific areas such as the tops of the cheekbones and the formula lends that golden glow without highlighting imperfections in the slightest or reading as shimmer particles. I’m also a fan of how the formula is alcohol-free and features glycerin and squalane.

Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Mousse in Medium ($38 CDN): I’m all about embracing my fair skin throughout most of the year but lately, I’ve been into a bit of fake tan to even out my skin tone and add a bit of a golden glow. I’m happy that I picked up this alcohol-free one at the Sephora VIB Sale, as it is easy to apply, doesn’t irritate my eczema and applies easily and evenly. It’s a green-toned tan that isn’t overly dark but it’s enough to give my skin a golden hue and to even out marks on my legs and the like. I also find that it’s convenient to use, drying fairly quickly and not staining bedding.

Devacurl Supercream Coconut Curl Styler ($38 CDN):Having looser curls and waves, this was not a cream that I ever would have thought to try from Devacurl. However, I received it as a point perk from Sephora. I really enjoyed using this cream underneath a gel in the rising humidity and warmer weather for helping my curls clump together nicely and minimizing frizz. The first few ingredients are fatty alcohols, glycerin and coconut oil and it has some protein thrown in as well. It definitely adds control to curls but wasn’t overly heavy in my experience.

Hada-Labo Goko-Jyun Premium Emulsion ($26.65 CDN):This emulsion is the first product of its kind that I’ve ever tried and honestly, I’m seeing the benefits of adding this to my daily routine as a pre-moisturizer step. It contains five forms of hyaluronic acid, fatty alcohol, glycerin and squalene. Using it daily before moisturizer has really helped to plump up my skin and leave it more hydrated and calmed. I will comment that it contains mineral oil, but it is more substantial than your traditional humectant as a result.

Tarte Knockout Tingling Treatment ($22/$47 CDN): As a bit of an acid-exfoliant aficionado, I feel strongly that I should hate this product. The marketing reinforces the myth that tingling means that a product is working — it doesn’t by the way – and it definitely more irritating than some other chemical exfoliants. I do wish that it was formulated without the vinegar, which is what gives that tingle sensation. However, I find the combination of niacinamide, lactic acid, citric acid, polyhydroxy acid, malic acid and salicylic acid provides dramatic resurfacing of my skin without irritation.